July 23, 2012

Active in drug education and prevention throughout the year, Scientologists around the world participated in United Nations Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

According to this year’s United Nations World Drug Report, drug-abuse kills some 200,000 each year and creates a “heavy financial burden” internationally. In a concerted effort to counter this epidemic, in the weeks leading up to the UN Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking June 26 through the first week of July, Scientology Churches, Missions and groups around the world, working with like-minded individuals and groups, organize, sponsor and contribute to drug awareness activities to prevent drug abuse before it begins.

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was created by the UN General Assembly in December 1987 to encourage all sectors of society to work together to tackle drug abuse and addiction. Scientologists commemorated the day by organizing and sponsoring conferences, lectures and symposia, participating in cross-country running and cycling races, meeting with elected officials and manning drug education booths and kiosks.

In Tokyo, the Church helped organize a drug education symposium where legislators networked with representatives of civil society and journalists, sharing information on effective drug prevention strategies.

Sydney Scientologists set up drug information booths on busy streets, where visitors watched the Truth About Drugs documentary, Real People—Real Stories, and took home copies of The Truth About Drugs seriesof drug education booklets to share with friends and families.

Russian Scientologists ran hundreds of miles in a two-week anti-drug “marathon” from Nizhny Novgorod to Kaluga, on to Ivanovo, Yaroslavl and Orel and ending in Moscow. Along the way they lectured in schools and colleges and distributed thousands of copies of the Truth About Drugs series of drug education booklets. Moscow Scientologists also distributed copies of drug education booklets and fliers in street events on June 26, the same day that St. Petersburg Scientologists participated in a local anti-drug bicycle race.

French Scientologists, cycling from Paris to Brussels, were met by Belgian Scientologists at the border. Together, they rode on to Brussels, meeting with mayors and aldermen along the way to provide them factual data on the importance of drug education in reducing abuse. Meanwhile, the Dutch “Say No to Drugs” marathon team took off from Amsterdam and, arriving in Brussels, joined the cyclists in an anti-drug bicycle tour through the center of the city, ending on the UN Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the headquarters of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions which hosted their anti-drug conference.

On June 12, Czech Scientologists began two weeks of running and cycling through the country for the 10th annual anti-drug “Cyclorun.” They educated youth on the truth about drugs in every town and city on their route.

Scientologists in Milan, Italy, held a “Say No to Drugs” soccer championship, and Scientologists from Padua carried out a bicycle tour through Cadoneghe, Noventa Padovana, Arquà Petrarca, Abano Terme, Montegrotto Terme and Battaglia Terme.

In New York, the Church of Scientology hosted the fifth annual Drug-Free Heroes Awards Ceremony.

In preparation for June 26, at a conference in Tennessee, Scientologists made drug education materials available to judges, court administrators, law enforcement officers, social workers, and treatment providers who deal with the backwash of drug abuse in state adult felony drug courts, DUI courts and juvenile drug courts.

As part of the International Faith-Based Coalition, the Church of Scientology of Sacramento helped bring the drug-free message to Oak Park, California, a community notorious for drug trafficking. At their press conference, religious leaders declared June 26 an “Oak Park drug-free day.”

In researching the destructive effects of drugs, Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “The planet has hit a barrier which prevents any widespread social progress—drugs and other biochemical substances. These can put people into a condition which not only prohibits and destroys physical health but which can prevent any stable advancement in mental or spiritual well-being.”

Scientologists live drug-free lives and work throughout the year to prevent drug abuse and addiction. Since last year’s UN Day against Drugs and Illicit Trafficking, Scientologists have distributed some 3.4 million copies of drug education booklets and organized, sponsored and participated in more than 3,000 drug prevention activities in their communities.

To learn more about the drug prevention initiative sponsored by the Church of Scientology or to participate, visit the Scientology website .

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The Church of Scientology sponsors the world’s largest nongovernmental drug education and prevention campaign. It has been conclusively proven that when young people are provided with the truth about drugs—factual information on what drugs are and what they do—usage rates drop commensurately.

The Church of Scientology Community Center of South Los Angeles hosted a special performance June 24, the fifth annual concert of “Love-in-Music ,” a nonprofit organization that introduces underserved children of the Los Angeles area to the joys of classical music.

The concert, held in the Community Center’s L. Ron Hubbard Auditorium, featured Love-in-Music’s talented young music students and special performances by soprano Kyung Chy, baritone Y.D. Kwon and the Park Trio—Yoon-Jae Park (violin), his wife Soo-Jung (cello), and brother Andrew (piano), with music arranged by Dr. Hyun Jung Hwang, faculty member of New California Conservatory and Institute of Art, Music and Science.

The Church of Scientology Community Center makes its auditorium, seminar rooms and conference rooms, at 8039 South Vermont Avenue in South Los Angeles, available to community groups, churches and public officials, providing a place where community events, programs and activities can take place.

Love-in-Music is a nonprofit organization established by a group of Korean volunteers in the wake of the 1992 riots. The group seeks to bridge cultural and ethnic boundaries through music. Through donations of musical instruments and encouraging local musicians to volunteer as music teachers, Love-in-Music reaches out to needy children, providing them music training that would not otherwise be available.

Captain Dennis Kato, Commanding Officer of the 77th Street Community Police Station, introduced Love-in-Music to the Scientology Community Center. The Community Center was proud to host the concert and looks forward to continued partnership this fall by making their facilities available to youth ages 8-12 for free Love-in-Music music lessons.

Over 1,000 Scientologists and guests attended a gala event in Hollywood Saturday night, marking the 42nd anniversary of the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre. Guests included many of the Church’s well-known members, including John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Anne Archer, Jenna Elfman, Jason Lee, Ethan Suplee, Erika Christensen, Priscilla Presley and Nancy Cartwright.

The evening’s guest speakers included John Redman, Director of Demand Reduction for California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), a program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Redman highlighted the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, which is supported by the Church: “Our partnership with the Foundation for a Drug-Free World has changed everything. I have never seen anything like it in my career. The materials are unmatched, and I don’t say that flippantly, because I have probably seen everything that has come along in drug education. These materials connect, they are interesting to the kids, and they are designed for youth and fun to work with. I’ve seen them in action and they work. The Foundation and the Church of Scientology are as committed and as serious as we are when it comes to educating the world about the dangers of drugs.”

Dr. Michael Crosby, President of the 77th Street Division Los Angeles Police Department Clergy Council spoke about his experience with another Church-affiliated program, The Way to Happiness.

“The Way to Happiness is ageless. It is for all creeds, races and religions. And it offers a light in the darkest night for our cultures. Whenever I read one or more of the precepts I rejoice, because we have in our hands a simple yet effective way to teach basic values and principles to anyone—principles that forge strong relationships, honesty, integrity, civility, and self respect and competence.”

The Church of Scientology sponsors humanitarian programs addressing key societal issues such as drug abuse, human rights, moral values for a modern world, illiteracy and disaster relief.

In keeping with Mr.Hubbard’s words from 1951, “A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists,” the Celebrity Centre is the arts and cultural branch of the Church of Scientology and as such work with those whose broad visions for social enhancement are essential for positive progression of society.

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre in Hollywood was founded in 1969. It was established to provide artists, professionals and leaders in every field with a distraction-free environment to practice their religion. Whether for up-and-coming artists or established public figures, a Celebrity Centre offers an atmosphere where all can discover Scientology for themselves. Other Celebrity Centres are located in cultural centers around the world including New York, Paris, Nashville, Las Vegas, Vienna, Florence and London. Celebrity Centres, like all churches of Scientology worldwide, are open to the public.

The popularity of Scientology among artists and professionals in many fields mirrors its current growth internationally, expanding more in the last year than the last five years combined and more in the last five years than in the five previous decades.

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The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles in 1954 and the religion has expanded to more than 9,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 165 countries.

Indie Fest recognizes Golden Era Productions’ four-and-a-half hour documentary, How to Use Dianetics, for exceptional achievement in craft and creativity in the category of educational and instructional films.

How to Use Dianetics was honored Wednesday, June 1, with an Indie Fest Award of Excellence for educational and instructional films. The film is a four-and-a-half hour book on film of L. Ron Hubbard’s seminal work, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, the all-time best-selling book on the human mind.

Produced by Golden Era productions, central dissemination center of the Scientology religion, How to Use Dianetics contains more than 10,000 computer-generated special effects graphics.

“The film is a tour de force, graphically illustrating every component of Dianetics. It enables the viewer to see each of the concepts presented in the book,” says Catherine Fraser, Director of Public Affairs for Golden Era Productions. “The step-by-step presentation makes it possible to master every Dianetics principle, one at a time. The film has already been translated into 16 languages, and we ultimately plan to expand this to more than 70 languages in all. Great care was taken to stay true to the book and bring the bestseller to life, making it as realistic as possible, even down to filming a real black panther to illustrate one of the key concepts in the book.”

“The Indie Fest is an independent, top-tier international film awards competition,” says Thomas Baker, PhD, competition chairperson. “The Indie is not an easy award to win. Entries are received from around the world. The Indie helps set the standard for craft and creativity.”

Golden Era Productions has earned 56 national and international awards for their films, documentaries, public service announcements and websites. For more information about Golden Era Productions and the How to Use Dianetics DVD, visit www.Scientology.org.

April 6, 2011

Scientology helped double bass player Ken Smith turn his theme song from “You’re Driving me Crazy” to “What a Wonderful World.”His videois one of 200 “Meet a Scientologist” videos available on the Scientology website at www.Scientology.org .

Imagine waking up each day knowing you will be doing exactly what you love to do. Then imagine this seven days a week for 21 years.

That’s how Ken Smith feels about his job, playing bass fiddle for the Jive Aces, the UK’s No. 1 jive and swing band.

“Our ‘work’ is making people happy,” says Smith, one of the founding members of the group. “What could be better than that?”

A fan of rock-and-roll as far back as he can remember, Smith, 48, danced his way to first place in the London Swing Dance Championship three years running, from 1983 to 1986.

He teamed up with lead singer and trumpet player Ian Clarkson, drummer Peter Howell and saxophonist John Fordham in a band called the Aces of Rhythm in 1985.

In 1989, he and Clarkson formed the Jive Aces, where Smith’s energetic antics are one of the group’s hallmarks—audiences go wild when he twirls his bass on its end pin, throws it above his head and climbs on board while playing.

Smith says Clarkson heard about Scientology first, and they walked into the Church together in 1990.

“I was having so much girlfriend trouble at the time, it was ruining my life, but one of my first Scientology courses handled that problem completely,” says Smith, now happily married to wife, Svetlana, also a Scientologist.

“I learned why people act the way they do,” he says. “That makes it so much easier to understand and deal with situations in life. Scientology really turned my life around. I went from miserable to happy, almost overnight. And it doesn’t hurt to be working in a terrific band where everyone gets along so well.”

Smith is particularly proud of the work the band does to help fans discover the truth about drugs.

“We recently performed our 1,000th ‘Say No To Drugs, Say Yes To Life’ concert,” he says. “There’s nothing better than doing something effective to make the world a better place—especially when you’re having a great time with your closest friends while doing it.”

The popular “Meet a Scientologist” profiles on the Church of Scientology International Video Channel at Scientology.org now total 200 broadcast-quality documentary videos featuring Scientologists from diverse locations and walks of life. The personal stories are told by Scientologists who are educators, teenagers, skydivers, a golf instructor, a hip-hop dancer, IT manager, stunt pilot, mothers, fathers, dentists, photographers, actors, musicians, fashion designers, engineers, students, business owners and more.

A digital pioneer and leader in the online religious community, in April 2008 the Church of Scientology became the first major religion to launch its own official YouTube Video Channel, which has now been viewed by millions of visitors.

YOU CAN MOLD YOUR LIFE AND CREATE YOUR FUTURE
Italian veterinarian and Scientologist Arianna

Italian veterinarian, Arianna, runs her own successful clinic in Italy. Introduced to Scientology by a friend she was curious to know what it was and found it interesting. “In life there has been a big change for me before and after Scientology, because when I was a kid I used to be very pessimistic, very introverted and I used to see my life as something difficult. Now I can see that there are many things I can do to change my life and I have changed it already a lot compared to what it originally was.”

Ariana says that one of the things a veterinarian has to be able to handle, since the dogs or cats can’t talk, is getting the pet’s owner to be able to tell her what the symptoms are. Sometimes it is difficult as the owner may feel guilty that the pet has been sick for a couple of weeks and he didn’t bring it in earlier. So it is important to make him feel at ease so he can talk to her, and also to not be judgmental towards them. The courses she has taken in Scientology, whether dealing with communication, handling relationships, or how to locate the source of non-optimum conditions, have helped her learn to handle both professional situations, as well as personal ones.

“Personally, Scientology makes me feel good. It makes me feel much better compared to how my life would have been if I had not found Scientology because it really gives me strength as it gives me the ability to understand situations and solve them…you have tools to handle the problems life hands you daily.”

Thinking that she would only be able to have a small clinic when she started here career limited her viewpoint. Now after finding Scientology and using it in her life she runs a large clinic with several staff and a thriving business.

“My attitude in general now is that life is worth living because in actual fact there is a way to change this life. It’s not true that one will never change. You can mold and create your future.”